Albion are bracing themselves for a tough start to life back in League One.

An opening trip to Rotherham on August 5 is followed by a succession of similarly difficult assignments for the relegated Seagulls in the early part of the campaign.

Gillingham are the first visitors to Withdean on August 8 and Brentford arrive four days later.

Albion also have away games at Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Millwall in August and early September, as well as entertaining Crewe, Bournemouth and Leyton Orient.

The challenging start continues at the end of September with gruelling journeys to Carlisle and Yeovil in the space of four days.

Manager Mark McGhee admitted: "It's going to be really important that we start well.

"Probably eight of the most difficult games potentially in the whole programme are in those first ten. It's as hard a start as we could have had but what it should do is focus our minds for pre-season."

Albion will seek approval from Crewe and the Football League to switch the August 26 fixture at Withdean to the Friday night, allowing fans to attend Sussex's appearance in the C&G Trophy final at Lord's.